Charles Curtis was an American politician and attorney. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 31st Vice President of the United States, having served from March 4, 1929 to March 4, 1933. He was elected to the position in 1928.

Vice President Curtis was the son of Ellen (Pappan) and Oren Arms Curtis. His father was of Colonial American (English) descent. His mother was of French-Canadian/French and Native American ancestry, including Potawatomi, Kaw, and Osage. As such, Vice President Curtis is the only person of documented Indigenous or Native American ancestry to have served as either President or Vice President of the United States, and the first person of non-European descent to serve in either position.

He was previously a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas, from March 4, 1893 to January 28, 1907, a U.S. Senator from Kansas, from January 29, 1907 to March 4, 1913, and again from March 4, 1915 to March 3, 1929, a President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, from December 4, 1911 to December 12, 1911, and Senate Majority Leader, from March 9, 1925 to March 3, 1929.

He was the Republican Party’s nominee for re-election as Vice President of the United States in 1932. He was also a candidate for the Republican Party’s nomination for President of the United States in 1928.

Vice President Curtis was married to Annie Baird, with whom he had three children.

Vice President Curtis’ paternal grandfather was William K. Curtis (the son of Thomas Curtis and Eunice Peet). William was from a Connecticut family of Colonial American (English) descent. Thomas was the son of Nathaniel Curtis and Mary Curtiss. Eunice was the daughter of Gideon Peet and Betty Burton.

Vice President Curtis’ paternal grandmother was Permelia Hubbard (the daughter of Noah Hubbard and Cynthia Clark). Permelia was from a family of Colonial American (English) descent, mostly based in Massachusetts. Noah was the son of Noah Ely Hubbard and Prudence Kellogg. Cynthia was the daughter of David Clark, Jr. and Elizabeth Kellogg.

Vice President Curtis’ maternal grandfather was Louis Pappan (the son of Louis Pappan). Vice President Curtis’ grandfather Louis was of French-Canadian and Potawatomi Native American descent. Vice President Curtis’ great-grandfather Louis was born in Montréal, Quebec, Canada, the son of Pierre Papineau and Marie Josephe Lapierre.

Vice President Curtis’ maternal grandmother was Julie Gonville (the daughter of Louis Gonville and Hunt Jimmy Kaw or Roy). Louis was born in France, the son of Louis Gonville and Genevieve LeRoi. Hunt’s father, Vice President Curtis’ great-great-grandfather, was Nom-pa-wa-rah, also known as Manshenscaw, Monchousia, and White Plume, who was a chief of the Kaw (Kansa, Kanza) Indians. Hunt’s mother, Vice President Curtis’ matrilineal great-great-grandmother, was a daughter of the Osage Chief Pawhuska.